Thermostatic control means for bottle coolers



y 0, 1950 H. w. WHITMORE 2,509,404

THERMOSTATIC CONTROL MEANS FOR BOTTLE COOLERS Filed June 28, 1948 v 2Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR. HARLAND w. WHITMORE ATTORNEYS May 30, 1950 H.w. WHITMORE THERMOSTATIC CONTROL MEANS FOR BOTTLE CQOLERS 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed June 28, 1948 MUM FIG.3.

INVENTOR.

HARLAND W. WHITMORE ATTORN EYS Patented May 30, 1950 THERMOSTATICCONTROL MEANS FOR BOTTLE COOLERS Harland W. Whitmore, Kenosha, Wis.,assignor to Motor Products Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of New York Application June 28, 1948, Serial No. 35,599

7 Claims.

The invention relates to refrigerators more particularly designed forthe storage of beverage containing bottles and for maintaining the sameat a temperature suitable for the dispensing of the liquid content.

It is the object of the invention to obtain a construction in which thetemperature is substantially uniform in all portions of the storagespace and is maintained at all times within predetermined maximum andminimum limits.

It is a further object to provide for the rapid cooling of the bottleswhen first loaded into the storage chamber, while guarding against thefreezing of the liquid content.

It is a further object to prevent accumulation of frost on a coolingsurface and also to remove any moisture condensation which may occur.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the constructionand automatic cooling means therefor as more fully hereinafter setforth.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical central section through the refrigerator; and

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the inner casing member and its refrigeratingcoil, illustrating diagrammatically the switch for the refrigeratingmotor and the thermostatic control therefor.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the switch which controls themotors and the thermostatic elements for actuating the switch.

The apparatus comprises a base section A in which the mechanism islocated and a cabinet section B above and supported upon the basesection. The section B includes an outer cylindrical casing C having abottom portion and an inner cylindrical casing D within and spaced fromthe casing C. A slab E of thermal insulating material is pressed uponthe bottom C and supports the inner casing D. The latter has helicallywrapped thereabout a tube F forming the evaporator, which tube ispreferably soldered or otherwise held in heat conducting contact withthe wall of the inner casing. The lower end of this helical tube isconnected with an accumulator F, which extends vertically adjacent tothe wall of the casing D and is connected at its upper end to a suctiontube F This tube is return bent to extend downward into the base sectionthrough a sealing grummet C in the bottom 0' of the outer casing. Theupper end of the helical tube F is connected with a capillary tube G,which is wound around the suction tube 1 and preferably solderedthereto. The lower end of the tube G passes through the grummet C and isconnected to the outlet tube H for liquid refrigerant from the condenserH. The space between the concentric walls of the casings C and D isfilled with thermal insulating material. The top of the inner casing Dis closed preferably by a pair of lids I, which are hinged to each otherand mounted on an annular cap member J. The latter has a dependingflange J connected to the outer casing C and has another dependingflange J extending into alignment with but spaced from the inner casingD. An annular member J of angle cross-section formed of rubber, or otherresilient material of low thermal conductivity, bridges the spacebetween the casing D and the portion J of the cap and overlaps thelatter to form a seat for the peripheral edges of the lids I. A metallicring J lines the rubber ring J and has a flange J imbedded in the topflange of the latter.

The height of the inner casing D is sufficient to receive a plurality oftiers of bottles and, as shown, there are two tiers. The upper tier issupported by a shelf K which includes a narrow stationary shelf sectionK extending diametrically across the casing D, and a pair ofsubstantially semi-circular shelf sections K on opposite sides of thesection K and pivotally mounted to be movable from horizontal to uprightpositions, thus giving access to the lower compartment. A blower casingmember L is mounted on the shelf K to be suspended therefrom and locatedtherebeneath. This casing has a stack portion L extending through theshelf and upward, being provided at its upper end with a cap L fordeflecting air from the stack radially outward. The blower L has anoperating motor L which is electrically connected to be energized ordeenergized simultaneously with a motor M, which is in the base sectionA and operates the refrigerating mech- 'anism.

With the construction as thus far described, it will be evident thatwhen the motor M is energized the refrigerating apparatus will beoperated and the evaporator coil F will cool the cylindrical wall of theinner casing D. If, at the same time, the motor L is energized this willcirculate air in the chamber within the casing F forcing it upwardthrough the stack L and radially outward by the defiector cap L againstthe cooled wall of the casing and then downward to the storage chamberbelow the shelf. The same circulation would be effected without the useof the blower as the cooled air adjacent to the cylindrical Wall wouldnaturally drop and the warmer air in the center would rise. However.

one responding to the temperature of the air and the other to thetemperature of the wall of the inner casing. sive means is adapted tode-energize the motors M and L at a predetermined minimum temperature ofthe air, stopping further refrigerating action, while the walltemperature responsive means energizes these motors upon a predeterminedmaximum temperature of the wall renewing refrigerating operation. Due tothe fact that the heat of the bottles is dissipated into the -air,: thesetting of the -.air temperature responsive means at a predeterminedminimum temperature will avoidnovercooling or freezing of the liquid.

On the other hand, the temperature of the wall may at timesv belowerthan the. freezing point of water without detriment, thereby producingmore'rapid cooling. A1so,.when the motor M is tie-energized, thermalresponseto the wall temperature may be set at a point which is above.the freezin point of water, so that there will be an interval-duringwhich any frost on the wallwill bd-removed. In other words, thetemperature .of thewall-may fallv below the freezing point duringitheoperation of the motor M but after said motor-is de-energizeddt can notbe re-energized until the temperature of the wall is ata predeterminedpoint above freezing.

Themeans preferably. employed for this automatic control is of thefollowing construction. Nis an-electric switch controlling the motors M-21lld-L WhiGh is actuated to, respectively,.close and open themotorcircuits-by thermal responsive means generally designated as O andP. As

the-specific construction of this switch and its operating means-is notapart of the invention, it is unnecessary to describe the same in detail..It

will-be sufficient to state that each of the.e1e- .ments and? includes acapillary tube which .extendsfrom the-casing of the switch N .to thepoint at which it responds to temperature change. The capillary tube ofthe element O is insertable through a guide tube Q which extends fromthe compartment A upward throughthe insulation between the outer casingC and inner casing D to apoi-nt where it i soldered or otherlwisethermallyconnected with the casing D. This tubeis installed during theassembly of the structure and extends downward into the base section A.Thus the capillary tube when inserted in the tube Q will be guidedthereby upward .to the point where itresponds to the temperature of the.casing-D. Inlike manner the. capillary tube of the thermally responsiveelement P is insert- -able: through;.a guide tubeQ leading from withinthe section .A upward through the casings. C and 'D .and into thestackL. Thus the end of the capillarytube will be exposed directly tothe air -within the. stack so that at a predetermined minimumtemperature of the air the motor switch N .willbe opened and themotor Mole-energized, thereby stopping refrigerating operation. The motor Lpreferably connected to be controlled by the switchN and to be energizedand de-energized simultaneously with the motor M. -I-To,w-

.ever, there .will. still 'be some circulation of the air 1 The airtemperature respon- 4 when the blower is not in operation due to thecooling and dropping of the air adjacent to the casing D, thetemperature of which is lower than that of the air within the stack.

From the above it will be understood that the temperature of at leasthalf the stored bottles may be maintained at any desiredpoint abovefreezing. Also that there is asuificient interval of time during whichthe temperature of the easing D is above freezing for defrosting. Theresulting water will be removed from the casing through a drainageconduit B.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having a storage .-.chamber.therewithin, intermittently operated reirigerating means connected todirectly -.co.ol,the wall of said cabinet surrounding said chamber,means responsive to a predetermined maximum temperature of said wall forstarting said refrigerating means, means for circulating airwithinsaidchamber to-pass upward centrally thereof and-then radially outward tosaid wall, andmeansresponsive to a predetermined minimum temperature ofair centrally within said chamber for stopping said refrigerating means.

;Z.-'In a refrigerator having spaced inner and outer casings and thermalinsulating means ;therebetween, .a cooling coil surroundingsaid innercasing inheat, conducting contact therewith,

intermittently operating refrigerating .means .outside said casingsbutconneeted to said coil,

thermally responsive means for starting and stopping said refrigeratingmeans and including a pair of flexible capillary tubes and guide-tubes:ior. receiving said capillary tubes both extending from withoutvsaidcasings, the one into the space therebetween and into heat conductingcontact withsaid inner casing and the other extending .thmuglrthebottoms of said casings centrally '40.

thereof .andupward within the inner casing, the capillary tube extendingthrough the last-mentioned guide tube being efiective'to stop therefrigerating means upon a predeterminedminimum temperature of airwithin the-cabinet, and

the other capillary tube causing the starting of said inner casing inheat conductingcontaet therewith, intermittently operating refrigeratingmeans outside said casings but connected --with said coil,aneleetrical-motor for operating said refrigeratingmeans,--an.--electrical switch for controlling said motor, thermallyresponsive "means for operating said switch including a pair ofcapillary tubes, the one for opening'the switch, the other for closingthe same, and a pair el -guide tubes-for respectively-receiving saidcapillary tubes, the guide tubefor the capillary tube which 'closestheswitch-extending from without said casings into-the space between thesame and into heatconducti-ng contact with the inner casing and theguide tube for the capillary tube which opens the switch-extendingthrough the bottoms ofsaid casings centrally thereof and up wardinto thespace within the inner casing.

4. in a refrigerator, a cabinet having -.a storage chamber therewithin,an evaporator upon 'the outerside-of and adaptedto directly cool t'hewall of said cabinet surrounding saidstorage chamber, intermittentlyoperated refrigerating meansconnected tosaid evaporator meanswe,

sponsive to a predetermined maximum temperature of said wall forstarting said refrigerating means, and means entirely independent ofsaid evaporator and responsive to a predetermined minimum temperature ofair centrally within said chamber for stopping said refrigerating means.

5. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having spaced inner and outer casingsand thermal insulating means therebetween, a cooling coil surroundingsaid inner casing in heat conducting contact therewith, intermittentlyoperating refrigerating means outside said casings but connected withsaid coil, thermally responsive means in thermal contact with said innercasing and responsive to a predetermined temperature thereof forstarting said refrigerating means, means for circulating air centrallyof said inner casing, and means entirely independent of said coolingcoil and wall for starting said refrigerating means, an air stacklocated centrally of said chamber, and means responsive to apredetermined tempera ture of air in said stack for stopping saidrefrigerating means.

7. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having a storage chamber therewithin, anevaporator in thermal contact with a wall of said chamber to cool thechamber, intermittently operated refrigerating means connected to saidevaporator, means responsive to a predetermined temperature of said wallfor starting said refrigerating means, means 3 providing for the upwardflow of air centrally within said chamber, and means entirelyindependent of said evaporator and responsive to a flowing air forstopping said refrigerating means.

responsive to a predetermined temperature of 20 the circulated aircentrally of said inner casing for stopping said refrigerating means.

6. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having a storage chamber therewithin, anevaporator in thermal contact with a wall of said chamber to cool the 25chamber, intermittently operated refrigerating means connected to saidevaporator, means responsive to a predetermined temperature of saidHARLAND W. WHITMORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,101,498 Grooms Dec. '7, 19372,213,505 Raney Sept. 3, 1940 2,319,890 Swart May 25, 1943

